Resients encouraged to help fill the freezer

Wednesday

Oct 2, 2013 at 1:00 PM

By Andy Barrandabarrand@hillsdale.net

HILLSDALE — As the need to help local food pantries fill their shelves continues, the Hillsdale County Community Foundation YOUTH will do its part.The YOUTH will be holding the annual Fill the Freezer food drive at Market House in Hillsdale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 10. All food collected during the event will help to support area food pantries.Amber Yoder, communications officer with the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, said this is the sixth year for the event.Last year's event collected two full cart loads of food and other items for each of the food pantries that took part. Those pantries included King's Kupboard, The Salvation Army, Hands of Mercy, Litchfield United Methodist Church, Waldron First Church of Christ and Lifeline Food Pantry.Yoder said the group has collected more and more food each year."It goes a long way; the food pantries tend to get donations of canned goods but not as many frozen items," Yoder said.She said they have even had people donate commercially-processed venison and other meats during the drive.The event is a community service project for the YOUTH."The YOUTH members recognize the challenges that many families are facing and want to do what they can to hopefully alleviate some of the stress and suffering of those in our community," Yoder said.Area businesses and community organizations are also encouraged to host internal food drives and bring collected items to Market House the day of the event.The Hillsdale County Community Foundation YOUTH was established in October 1991. The YOUTH Advisory Council has an ongoing program for studying the assists, needs and concerns of the young people of Hillsdale County. YOUTH has a special endowment fund, initially made possible by a challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, to make available grant dollars to benefit and involve young people in Hillsdale County.